Days of our Lives SHOCKER: Stephanie and Jeremy Both Abducted in Double Kidnapping Plot?!

Days of Our Lives divulges that the Salem Police Department has an APB out on Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) for the kidnapping of Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein). But the thing is that Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) confirmed both their phones are off, and there are other signs that Jeremy might be a victim right alongside Stephanie.

Now, Rafe didn’t confirm he might be a victim, but Rafe said it’s like both of them just disappeared. So we’re going to talk about that. I’m going to tell you why I am increasingly certain that Days is tricking and misleading viewers. We got a lot to unpack on this messy Jeremy situation. Let’s get to it.

Is Jeremy Horton Being Framed for Stephanie Johnson’s Kidnapping on Days of Our Lives?

I’ve said here all along that Jeremy didn’t do the stalking and wasn’t going to be Stephanie’s kidnapper. Whenever the police focus on just one person and they never consider other possible suspects, that’s always when they miss stuff. If you watch true crime shows, you know.

And that’s what’s happening here. Stephanie decided that she is so amazing that Jeremy must still be obsessed with her. And that was reinforced when Stephanie had that nightmare where Jeremy was saying he loved her and he only came back to Salem for her.

It was the most egotistical nightmare I could imagine—like I’m so fabulous, everyone’s obsessed with me. And then Stephanie woke up after nightmare Jeremy shot Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson).

Identifying the Real DOOL Culprit and Hired Thugs in Salem

Because if you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s not Jeremy behind the kidnapping. The one who took Stephanie was somebody else. Somebody I think was paid to take her—a henchman or a hired thug. The actor’s name is Dan Coons.

So, it’s not either of them, not even intending to be them. Not like a body double or anything. Meanwhile, I suspect that Jeremy may have been snatched right along with Stephanie—right before her, actually.

And of the two of them, it’s likely Jeremy is in more danger than Stephanie. And I’ll tell you why. Because the real kidnapper is Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey), a blast from Stephanie’s past, who was fixated on her, and he still is. So, maybe Stephanie’s not being that egotistical. Maybe every guy she’s ever dated still wants her.

The Flawed Evidence Against Jeremy Horton in the Stalking Case on Days

But not only may Owen be scapegoating Jeremy, but because he physically hurt Stephanie when they were together, Owen might want to retroactively punish Jeremy for hurting the woman that he obsessively loves.

Up to now, it’s been just one circumstantial thing after another that had Alex, Stephanie, Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu), and Steve Johnso (Stephen Nichols) all certain that Jeremy was stalking Stephanie. And now they think they’ve got this smoking gun.

Jada re-watched the Horton Town Square Halloween video and decided that was enough to arrest Jeremy because some dude in a mask and a mad scientist costume slashed a knife at an unsuspecting Alex. Getting hit with a pumpkin saved him from getting stabbed.

They even showed a little still shot of the video to Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes), who is now completely convinced that this masked guy—whose face you cannot see and can’t see anything about him other than his outfit—is definitely Jeremy. And that means he’s a stalker and kidnapper.

Jumping to Conclusions: Alex and Jada’s Olympic-Level Assumptions

What’s even more insane is the moment that Alex realized that EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) didn’t send that photo frame to them, he instantly decided it was bugged. If jumping to conclusions was an Olympic sport, Alex and Jada would both have gold medals at this point. I think Steve and Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) might have bronze.

When Stephanie was kidnapped, it was at the same time the cops went over to arrest Jeremy at the elementary school and couldn’t find him. He had been all packed up, Julie said, and was planning to leave Salem right after school got out that day to drive to New York to be with his father, Mike Horton (Roark Critchlow).

And whatever else you think about Jeremy, I doubt that he would ditch and leave a room full of fifth graders alone for the rest of the day, especially with wicked little Rachel Black (Alice Halsey) in the room. He knows better. She cannot be unsupervised.

The Theory of Jeremy Horton’s Abduction from Salem Elementary on DOOL

And the school told the police that he excused himself to the restroom and never came back. So, Jada suspects he climbed out a bathroom window and he fled on foot because his car is still in the lot.

I feel like Jeremy was lured out one way or another by Owen or a henchman to leave the classroom and then they drugged him. They used the same drug they used on the cop. Then they could shove Jeremy into one of those big rolling trash cans like custodians have at schools.

Just roll him right out back, toss him into a van, drive away. That would be the perfect plan for Owen to kill two birds with one stone. That way, Jeremy is implicated in the kidnapping, he’s got no alibi, and Owen can punish him. And then he also still has Stephanie free and clear because nobody’s looking for him.

The Mystery of the Black Hoodie and Silicon Masks on Days of Our Lives

Meanwhile, Days has fans thinking that Jeremy is roaming the streets of Salem in a black hoodie with Stephanie’s phone in his hand. But I am increasingly certain that Jeremy is tied up somewhere just like Stephanie is. And that’s Owen in a Jeremy mask. For what it’s worth, the actors are nearly the same height and build.

Not that that matters in the world of Days of Our Lives and silicon masks. They will slap them on anybody and people rarely realize it’s not the other person. Abigail Deveraux (AnnaLynne McCord) is one of the few examples where she figured out Ava Vitali (Tamara Braun) was wearing a Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) mask and basically slapped it off of her.

Also, Rafe said the sedative used to knock out the cop is something not sold in the US. And Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) immediately said, “So, how does this elementary school teacher get it?” Exactly. Thank you, Cat. She’s thinking like somebody who’s actually investigating.

Owen Kent’s History with the DiMera Family and Dr. Rolf on Days

So, Owen Kent worked for the DiMeras. And I’m certain it’s them that broke him out of the prison transport years ago. So, he could have gotten a mask from Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) or another shady source. Owen may have been hiding out in Europe this whole time thanks to the DiMeras.

So, he could have come back with an agenda to get Stephanie, punish Jeremy. And frame him so Owen could get away with Stephanie and nobody would be the wiser. If you remember your Days history, Stephanie dated Jeremy back in 2007 and they had a toxic and abusive relationship.

And then in 2009, that was when Stephanie was kidnapped by Owen. He was working as a handyman/gardener for the Kiriakises and he got wrapped up in the DiMera versus Kiriakis feud. EJ had Owen kidnap Stephanie as leverage against her then-boyfriend Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier).

Owen Kent’s Unhealthy Obsession and the Future Reveal

After kidnapping Stephanie, we had Owen holding her in a bunker and also the morgue for a while. That’s fun. And during the captivity while he was holding her, Owen got attached to Stephanie and it turned into this full-blown obsession. She was the object of Owen’s unhealthy affection. And then Stephanie, of course, was horrified by Owen’s increasingly unhinged behavior.

So, he may have scapegoated Jeremy this time so he could just get away clean with Stephanie. And no one would have any idea that Owen stole her. And if Stephanie never turns up and Jeremy never turns up, he can literally get away with kidnapping and murder.

So, after months of Stephanie assuming that Jeremy did it, I really am looking forward to the look on her face if she sees Jeremy is also a kidnapping victim. And what would be the ultimate slapback at Alex and Stephanie for their assumption is if it turns out Jeremy actually saved Stephanie, which I think he would.

Marlena Evans as the Voice of Reason for the Horton Family on DOOL

I think it’s not going to be too long before Steve grabs the guy in a black hoodie, certain that he’s nabbing Jeremy, only to see that it’s Owen. Also, this week, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) is kind of the voice of reason, telling Kayla that Jeremy doesn’t fit the profile of someone who would kidnap Stephanie.

I don’t know if Kayla’s going to listen and think that they should cast a wider net or carry on with the assumption it’s Jeremy. From the moment he was back and went to apologize to Stephanie, Jeremy claimed he had worked hard on himself to get over anger issues, got a teaching degree. And he’s making a difference in the lives of kids.

His students really liked him. Stephanie from the jump didn’t believe him, had no faith in anything he was saying. And Jeremy’s past with her remained like it was present.

Clearing Jeremy Horton’s Name and What to Expect Next on Days of Our Lives

So Steve, Kayla, Alex, Jada—all of them are judging him based on this and all these years of work he’s done on himself. None of that matters. And in the end, I think Jeremy’s accusers are going to have to swallow their pride.

I think once Stephanie’s saved, they’re going to have to apologize to Jeremy for ruining his life and his reputation when he’s been innocent all along. We’ll know more when Owen pops up on Friday. Wait to see if he’s got Jeremy’s mask on his face or maybe in his back pocket.